Kitty Conley's Scratching Post

Nov. 13: Veterans Day Celebration at St. Mary Catholic Community School in Crown Point. All veterans and their families are welcome. The party starts at 9 a.m. and refreshments are served after the program.

Nov. 16: Redevelopment Commission meeting has been moved to this date and starts at 5:30 p.m. after an executive session.

Nov. 18: Public hearing to establish a new county-regulated drain that is a tributary to Spring Run Ditch. It will be during the County Drainage Board meeting that starts at 9 a.m.

Nov. 26:Thanksgiving Day. Remember to tell the people you are breaking bread with that you are thankful for their company. Sharing what we are thankful for is a great gift to give and receive.

Nov. 26-27: Thanksgiving break for Crown Point Community School Corp.

Nov. 29: First Sunday Advent. Just four weeks until Christmas.

Dec. 3: "Faustina: Messenger of Divine Mercy" will be at St. John Evangelist Church in St. John at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance. For more information, contact Jackie Krilich at the parish office at 219-365-5678 or jackiekrilich@yahoo.com.

Dec. 5: Last day to get your application in for EMT classes if you want to be a firefighter. You won't get hired by Crown Point and many other departments as a firefighter unless you already have an EMT certification and are working to get your paramedic certification. Applications are available at EMS Academy at Franciscan St. Anthony Health Crown Point, 1201 S. Main St. Classes begin in January 2016. Information: 219-757-6334. The fee is $900 but payment plans and scholarships are available.

Eclectic (eklektikos) stuff

Turnout at the polls for the recent municipal election was dismal at best. There is something to say for the Australian rules on voting. If you don't go to the polls you are fined $20. If you don't pay the fine, the penalty can jump to $170 plus court costs. In other countries, if you don't vote you cannot get a passport or a driver's license.

We are a forgiving country. However, we are not as forgiving as some think. When anyone registers to vote they must sign an affidavit that they are a citizen. Legal immigrants with green cards can get driver's licenses, but they cannot vote. The federal government will contact people who falsely register to vote and tell them to get it expunged or they will be deported, usually within the month.

According to Michelle Fajman, director of the Lake County Board of Elections, in order to vote you must be a U.S. citizen, have registered to vote and be at least 18 years old by the next general election. In Indiana you must also have lived in your voting precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election.